Are my files uploaded to a server?

No. Every tool on this site runs inside your browser. Your file is read from your disk into your own browser's memory, processed there, and written back out. You can confirm this yourself: open your browser's developer tools, switch to the Network tab, and run the tool — you will not see your document being sent anywhere. It also means the tools keep working if you go offline after the page has loaded.

How is this different from drawing a black rectangle?

That is the important difference, and it is the mistake that has leaked a great many documents. A black rectangle drawn over text leaves the text in the file, where anyone can select and copy it. Here the affected page is rebuilt so the covered content is no longer present at all.

What is the trade-off?

Pages containing a redaction are flattened, so the text on those pages stops being selectable and searchable. That is the price of removing content reliably, and for a redacted document it is usually the right trade. Pages you did not mark are untouched.

Can redacted text be recovered?

Not from the output file, because it is not in it. Do keep in mind that the original on your disk is unchanged, so store or delete that according to how sensitive it is.

Redact a PDF — free, no upload

How to redact a PDF

1Open your PDFPages are shown so you can find what needs removing.
2Mark what to removeDrag a box over each piece of sensitive text or imagery. Mark as many areas on as many pages as you need.
3Apply the redactionThe marked pages are rebuilt so that the content under each box no longer exists in the file, then you download the result.

When you would use this

Redaction is for documents that must be shared but not fully revealed: a bank statement where only the balance is relevant, a contract going to a third party with the commercial terms removed, medical or HR records being handed over, or a screenshot in a report that happens to include somebody's address.

Questions about Redact PDF

Are my files uploaded to a server?: No. Every tool on this site runs inside your browser. Your file is read from your disk into your own browser's memory, processed there, and written back out. You can confirm this yourself: open your browser's developer tools, switch to the Network tab, and run the tool — you will not see your document being sent anywhere. It also means the tools keep working if you go offline after the page has loaded.
How is this different from drawing a black rectangle?: That is the important difference, and it is the mistake that has leaked a great many documents. A black rectangle drawn over text leaves the text in the file, where anyone can select and copy it. Here the affected page is rebuilt so the covered content is no longer present at all.
What is the trade-off?: Pages containing a redaction are flattened, so the text on those pages stops being selectable and searchable. That is the price of removing content reliably, and for a redacted document it is usually the right trade. Pages you did not mark are untouched.
Can redacted text be recovered?: Not from the output file, because it is not in it. Do keep in mind that the original on your disk is unchanged, so store or delete that according to how sensitive it is.

Other tools you might need

Protect PDFEncrypt a PDF with AES-256 and control what readers are allowed to do.Unlock PDFStrip password protection from a PDF you have the password for.Merge PDFCombine several PDFs into one, in exactly the order you choose.Split PDFPull out single pages, custom ranges, or break a file into separate documents.